stephanie
01-27-2007, 03:39 AM
People better keep a eye wide open on the Democrat Party...:mad:
Posted: January 27, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern
By Jayme P. Evans
In a little noticed, unconstitutional power grab intended to cement their hold on the House of Representatives, Democrats, led by none other than Nancy Pelosi, put forth language in a resolution that gives non-voting delegates from Washington D.C., Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa and Puerto Rico limited rights to cast votes on legislation.
The move allows them to vote on amendments, but not cast the final up or down votes on legislation. Further, if the delegates' votes decide an amendment, then the vote will be tossed, and another vote taken without the delegates.
Majority Leader Steny Hoyer exemplified the legendary sensitivity of the liberal mind by saying, "This is symbolic. The delegates know it, but it is an opportunity for them to participate."
The Constitution is crystal clear on this issue. The 14th amendment states:
"Representatives shall be apportioned among the several states according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each state, excluding Indians not taxed."
It's fairly obvious by that statement that the intent was to provide representation only for those who actually paid taxes. Although D.C., Guam, and the others are U.S. territories, they are not states. The people who represent those populations are not senators, and they are not members of Congress. They are referred to as delegates, and for good reason. The only one of the five territories that pays federal income tax is Washington D.C. In fact, you might argue that the others are public charges, since they receive so much federal aid, and their citizens pay no federal tax.
Puerto Rico is a commonwealth. The citizens of Puerto Rico have had numerous opportunities to decide through popular votes whether they wish to enhance their commonwealth status, become a U.S. stat, or seek independence altogether. The last vote came in 1998 through a referendum, and "none of the above" won out over statehood.
The people of Puerto Rico have consistently rejected, albeit by pretty slim margins, the idea of becoming a U.S. state. So if the people of the island have spoken and made their intentions clear on so many occasions, why does Pelosi feel the need to give their delegates the right to vote?
Guam is considered a U.S. territory. It, too, was ceded to the U.S. by Spain in the late 1800s. Guamanians receive hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars in aid, which carries no corresponding federal income or excise taxes. In addition, due to its strategic importance as a U.S. Naval base, the Guamanian treasury is the recipient of all U.S. federal income tax paid by U.S. servicemembers and civilian employees on the island.
The U.S. Virgin Islands, like Puerto Rico, has been offered several referenda sponsored by Congress so that the residents of the islands can also vote on their future. Like Puerto Rico, they were given a choice between independence, status quo and U.S. statehood. These efforts have failed to result in enough turnout to produce a majority of voters.
American Samoa is a little different. While Congress has not officially sponsored any efforts toward statehood, this U.S. territory has had self-governance since 1967. I'm sure with enough citizen interest, American Samoa could convince Congress, much like Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, to hold a referendum on independence or statehood.
So, with these territories so remote from the mainland, with the cultural and ethnic differences that abound, with their lackadaisical attitudes toward their own self-determination, why should they be allowed to influence our political process on the mainland? The days of colonial American dominance are over. These territories are free to choose independence, but they don't.
The last time Democrats held the majority, they tried the same stunt. The provision that delegates' votes could not determine the outcome was added to ostensibly avoid conflicts with the Constitution, The truth is, however, that Democrats, if not violating the Constitution, are at least toying with it to pad their margins on votes. Of the five delegates, four of them are Democrats.
One of the founding principles of our democracy is no taxation without representation. With Pelosi's actions, this logic has now been turned on its head. What we now have in four of these cases is representation without taxation, and that is a gutting of our Constitution, a violation of the law and a cynical power grab by the woman who – in her own words – is now the most powerful woman in America.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53966
Posted: January 27, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern
By Jayme P. Evans
In a little noticed, unconstitutional power grab intended to cement their hold on the House of Representatives, Democrats, led by none other than Nancy Pelosi, put forth language in a resolution that gives non-voting delegates from Washington D.C., Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa and Puerto Rico limited rights to cast votes on legislation.
The move allows them to vote on amendments, but not cast the final up or down votes on legislation. Further, if the delegates' votes decide an amendment, then the vote will be tossed, and another vote taken without the delegates.
Majority Leader Steny Hoyer exemplified the legendary sensitivity of the liberal mind by saying, "This is symbolic. The delegates know it, but it is an opportunity for them to participate."
The Constitution is crystal clear on this issue. The 14th amendment states:
"Representatives shall be apportioned among the several states according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each state, excluding Indians not taxed."
It's fairly obvious by that statement that the intent was to provide representation only for those who actually paid taxes. Although D.C., Guam, and the others are U.S. territories, they are not states. The people who represent those populations are not senators, and they are not members of Congress. They are referred to as delegates, and for good reason. The only one of the five territories that pays federal income tax is Washington D.C. In fact, you might argue that the others are public charges, since they receive so much federal aid, and their citizens pay no federal tax.
Puerto Rico is a commonwealth. The citizens of Puerto Rico have had numerous opportunities to decide through popular votes whether they wish to enhance their commonwealth status, become a U.S. stat, or seek independence altogether. The last vote came in 1998 through a referendum, and "none of the above" won out over statehood.
The people of Puerto Rico have consistently rejected, albeit by pretty slim margins, the idea of becoming a U.S. state. So if the people of the island have spoken and made their intentions clear on so many occasions, why does Pelosi feel the need to give their delegates the right to vote?
Guam is considered a U.S. territory. It, too, was ceded to the U.S. by Spain in the late 1800s. Guamanians receive hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars in aid, which carries no corresponding federal income or excise taxes. In addition, due to its strategic importance as a U.S. Naval base, the Guamanian treasury is the recipient of all U.S. federal income tax paid by U.S. servicemembers and civilian employees on the island.
The U.S. Virgin Islands, like Puerto Rico, has been offered several referenda sponsored by Congress so that the residents of the islands can also vote on their future. Like Puerto Rico, they were given a choice between independence, status quo and U.S. statehood. These efforts have failed to result in enough turnout to produce a majority of voters.
American Samoa is a little different. While Congress has not officially sponsored any efforts toward statehood, this U.S. territory has had self-governance since 1967. I'm sure with enough citizen interest, American Samoa could convince Congress, much like Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, to hold a referendum on independence or statehood.
So, with these territories so remote from the mainland, with the cultural and ethnic differences that abound, with their lackadaisical attitudes toward their own self-determination, why should they be allowed to influence our political process on the mainland? The days of colonial American dominance are over. These territories are free to choose independence, but they don't.
The last time Democrats held the majority, they tried the same stunt. The provision that delegates' votes could not determine the outcome was added to ostensibly avoid conflicts with the Constitution, The truth is, however, that Democrats, if not violating the Constitution, are at least toying with it to pad their margins on votes. Of the five delegates, four of them are Democrats.
One of the founding principles of our democracy is no taxation without representation. With Pelosi's actions, this logic has now been turned on its head. What we now have in four of these cases is representation without taxation, and that is a gutting of our Constitution, a violation of the law and a cynical power grab by the woman who – in her own words – is now the most powerful woman in America.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53966